a photo blog by jen wittlin

Category Archives: Brooklyn

It has been way too much time since I last posted here, but I am back. And what better way to be back than with photos of Dim Sum. Back in May, I was lucky to be invited out to celebrate the birthday of a friend at Pacificana in Sunset Park. The day just felt right from the beginning. From the group of people who came together to the walk down 8th Avenue, Brooklyn’s own Chinatown, to sharing a meal and celebrating a friend. We sat at a circular table at the window and the light was perfect. There is something about communal meals, dumplings and laughter…you should try it sometime.

For Chinese New Year, I found myself in Sunset Park. This neighborhood in Brooklyn is where I work and is notable for the large communities of both Mexican and Chinese immigrants. It is vibrant and hearty and diverse. I arrived at 8th Avenue, the main artery of the Chinese community, for the Lunar New Year parade to an explosion of visual stimulation. People, color, movement, and celebration was happening everywhere. There were bubbles floating, canisters of silly string being sprayed at a ferocious clip, and in good order, children creating giant multi-colored wands out of leftover canister lids. There were children in traditional clothing, plastic dolls and fans, firecrackers and even baby pet turtles. In between pork buns, I snapped away. Photographing random people is not in my comfort zone. I took many shots but none of them spoke to me like the photos I am sharing above. I was most drawn to the edges of the celebration- sun reflecting on balloons or nearby doorways, a bubble lifting into the sky, what is discarded. That is what I celebrate.